Sewer Scope Inspection
A recorded push-camera inspection of the sewer lateral that reveals roots, bellies, offsets, cracks and collapsed pipe before they become a five-figure repair.
A recorded camera inspection that finds roots, cracks and collapses early.
First Question: Does this property actually warrant one?
Does it need a scope?
Not every house needs a sewer scope. These are the signals that decide it.
Built before 1985 on municipal sewer
Older clay or Orangeburg pipe, plus decades of root exposure. This is the case where a scope earns its money most often.
Mature trees between the house and the street
Roots find the joints, the joints become a blockage, then the blockage becomes a backup.
Roots find the joints, joints clog, and clogs become backups.
Slow drains, a prior backup, or unknown history
Slow drains or past backups
A symptom or a history makes direct camera evidence far more valuable than a guess.
A newer PVC line installed
Lower risk, but settling and construction damage still happen. Worth it if you want certainty.
Lower risk, but settling and construction damage still happen.
The property is on private septic
We can scope the line where useful, but the tank, baffles and drain field need a septic inspection instead.
Cheapest as part of an inspection.
Cheapest when bundled.
Adding it to an inspection you are already booking costs less and keeps everything on one appointment and one report.
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Standalone Scope
For owners and sellers who only need the lateral evaluated.
Home Protection
Home inspection, radon testing and sewer scope together, at a bundled price.
All three at one bundled price.
What the camera finds
Four failures that are invisible from inside the property
Four failures you can’t see from inside.
Root intrusion
Roots entering the joints progress from a minor obstruction to repeated backups, and eventually to line failure.
Roots in joints cause backups.
Collapsed or deteriorated pipe
Collapsed pipe
Clay and Orangeburg lines crack, deform and collapse with age. Both fail predictably.
Old pipe cracks and caves in.
Bellies
A low spot holds water and solids, creating a recurring drainage problem that never quite clears.
Low spots trap water and solids.
Offsets and cracks
A shifted joint or damaged section catches everything moving past it, and gives roots a way in.
Shifted joints snag waste.
Evidence a contractor can quote from.
Not a pass or fail. You get footage and a location, so a plumber can price the work without re-running the camera.
- Recorded video delivered with your report
- Distance-marked defect locations
- Pipe material and likely age noted where visible
- A clear recommendation on urgency
- Recorded video with your report
- Distance-marked defect locations
- Pipe material and age noted
- A clear urgency recommendation
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need a sewer scope on a newer home?
Less often, but not never. Post-1985 homes generally use PVC, which fails far less. We still find damage from settling, poor installation and construction traffic, so it can be worth it on a home under ten years old.
Is the video included?
Yes. You get the recorded footage with distance markers, which is what a plumber needs to quote a repair without re-scoping it themselves.
How far can the camera reach?
We run from the accessible cleanout to the municipal main or the septic tank. Distance is noted in the report so a contractor knows where to dig.
Do newer homes need one?
Less often, but not never. Post-1985 homes generally use PVC, which fails far less. We still find damage from settling, poor installation and construction traffic, so it can be worth it on a home under ten years old.
Is the video included?
Yes. You get the recorded footage with distance markers, which is what a plumber needs to quote a repair without re-scoping it themselves.
How far can the camera reach?
We run from the accessible cleanout to the municipal main or the septic tank. Distance is noted in the report so a contractor knows where to dig.
What happens if you find a defect?
You get the footage, the distance to the defect, the pipe material where visible, and a clear view on urgency. That is enough for a plumber to quote from without re-running the camera.
Does a sewer scope inspect the septic tank?
No. The scope looks at the pipe. Tank, baffles and drain field are covered by a separate septic inspection, which we can do in the same visit.
Can I add it after I have already booked?
Yes, as long as we have not run the inspection yet. Call us and we will add it to the appointment at the bundled price.
What if you find a defect?
You get the footage, the distance to the defect, the pipe material where visible, and a clear view on urgency. That is enough for a plumber to quote from without re-running the camera.
Does it cover the septic tank?
No. The scope looks at the pipe. Tank, baffles and drain field are covered by a separate septic inspection, which we can do in the same visit.
Can I add it after booking?
Yes, as long as we have not run the inspection yet. Call us and we will add it to the appointment at the bundled price.
Know what is happening underground before you own it.
Add the scope to your inspection for the best price, or book a standalone camera evaluation.